COVERT-SHOOTING. 95 



from one of his long, slight, but wiry arms as made 

 him utterly oblivious to the call of " Time." This 

 was the long-remembered deed of a dandy of the 

 period, and this digression is to warn the loud censors 

 of to-day against the under-estimation of his scorned 

 representative, the modern *' Masher," the derided 

 '* Chappie." 



To return to the theme, I protest against the in- 

 discriminate abuse of the battue. It is the result 

 of our civilisation, as we are pleased to term it. 

 Besides the difficulties above alluded to, in the way of 

 pursuing the sport after the manner of our fathers, 

 recent legislation has placed many more obstacles in 

 the path of such pursuit. No longer, after the 

 passing of the Rabbits and Hares Bill, can we say, 

 if I may be allowed to paraphrase and desecrate with 

 so vile a pun Pope's earliest lines : — 



" Happy the man whose only care 

 A few paternal acres bound. 

 Content to shoot his native hare 

 On his own ground." 



